现在位置: 首页 / 专科文凭 / 正文

7. Art for Heart’s Sake

READING TRANSLATION

    为了心脏而搞艺术
卢比・戈德堡
        凯斯•科佩尔听见了门铃声，他很想借机离开这个房间。作为巨富克里斯．普•埃尔斯洪恩的私人护士，他花了整整一个早展的时间，试图说服这位富翁配合医生的治疗，但没有成功。当他看到来访者是埃尔斯沃恩的医生卡斯韦尔时，便开始向医生抱怨说：
        〝我拿他一点办法也没有。他不喝果汁，不要我念书给他听，他讨厌听收育机，讨厌看电视。他什么都不喜炊。
        实际上，埃尔斯天思惟一喜欢的就是他的生意。问题是：虽然他仍是一个令人难以置信的巨富，但他最近已经开始频频出现大錯。他总是高价买入一些公司,结果眼看着他们经营不善或破产。
        对于一位七十六岁的老人来说，埃尔斯沃斯 先生的身体还很不错，但是生意场上的失败却在影响着他的健康。他上一次心脏病发作是在衣阿华州倒霉地买了一条铁路支线之后。在此之前他的心脏病复发，是因为一家食品杂货连锁店的经营不佳而使他情绪上受到了刺激，这家商店是他在通货膨胀时期购买的。最近他购买的所有公司、商店看来都得清理变卖，这对他的经济利益和身体健康都是一个巨大的损失，其后果十分严重。
        因此,卡斯韦尔医生已经做了一些积极的考虑,认为应使埃尔斯洪恩先生的大脑从生意的困境中解脱出来,把他的精力引导到别的事情上去。艺术便是最佳选择。医生走进了这位病人的房间。
        “我听说你一直不听从医生的吩咐。”医生责备道。
        “在我这个年纪，谁还能吩咐我？”
        医生拉过一把椅子，挨近老人坐了下来，“我倒对你有个建议。”他心平气和地说。
        老埃尔斯沃思从眼镜后露出了疑惑的眼神，“什么建议？多加点药，多搞几次乘汽车兜风,好让我不沾办公室的边儿吗？”
        “搞点艺术，怎么样？” 医生将听诊器准备好，生怕他的建议提得太突然,病人的心脏会受不了。
        “胡说! ”这位老人的回答却是铿销有力。
        “我并不是让你认真去学，”医生舒了口气,总算没有出事，“只不过用粉笔、蜡笔涂着玩而已，非常有趣。”
        虽然埃尔斯沃斯几次露出不悦之色，但经过这位聪明医生的温和功导，他终于作出了让步,同意尝试一下。
        卡斯韦尔医生去找他的朋友，大西洋艺术学院院长加德森*利文思顿。利文思顿向他推荐了弗兰克•斯温,一名十八岁的艺术学院学生，成绩十分优秀,但是正缺钱交学费;斯温每周将抽出一个下午的时间指导埃尔斯洪斯,每小时十美元。
        第二天下午便开始了第一节课,这节课还算是比较顺利，斯温把纸和蜡笔在桌子上摆好。
        “我们试着画那边的花瓶，怎么样？”他建议说。
        “为什么画那个东西？不过是一个带有蓝点儿，或是绿点儿的瓶子要了，对吗？”
        “试试吧，埃尔斯沃思先生,请试试看.”
“哼!”老人用他颤抖的手拿起一根蜡笔乱画了几笔,接着又乱画了几笔,然后把这些线条粗略的连在了一起。“画好了,年轻人,"他满意的哼了一声,“真是胡闹!”
弗兰克·斯温很有耐心,他需要这十美元。“若想作画,您就要看看要画的物体，先生。”
埃尔斯沃思看了看花瓶,“我的天,还挺好看,我以前从没注意过!”
科佩尔走了进来,宣布病人已经够累了,第一节课可以结束了。
“哎,又是菠萝汁。”埃尔斯沃思嘀咕着，斯温走了,但他不知道埃尔斯沃思先生是否会再一次邀请他。
当这位艺术学院的学生第二周来的时候,桌子上已经有了一幅画,这张画有些像花瓶,老人眯起眼睛逗趣的问:“喂,你看这幅画怎么样?”
“不错,先生,"斯温回答道,“不过有些不对称。"
“对啊,"老人微笑着说,“我知道,花瓶的两边不对称。”他用那只有些颤抖的手又画上几笔，并像小孩描画本似地把空白处涂上了蓝色。然后,他朝门口望着:“听着,年轻人,”他悄声说,“趁着‘老菠萝汁'还没进来， 我想问你点事。”
"请讲吧,先生。”斯温毕恭毕敬地回答道。
"我想,你能不能抽时间每周来两次,或许三次?”
几周过去了,斯温来的次数也越来越多，每当卡斯韦尔医生来看望他时，老埃尔斯沃思总是谈论壁炉架的优美线条,或是讨论水果盘中水果的各种颜色。
这种治疗效果很不错。他不再到商业区去从事那些注定要失败的贸易活动,再没有什么疯狂的金融计划来折腾他那颗疲惫不堪、衰老的心脏了,艺术已成为对他进行治疗的有效方法。
医生认为允许埃尔斯沃思同斯温去参观纽约艺术博物馆,现代艺术博物馆和其他艺术展览没有什么危险。一个全新的世界向他展示出其中的种种神秘。这位老人对画廊和展出的作品显示出很强烈的好奇心。画廊是怎样管理的?展出的油画由谁选定?在他的脑海里正酝酿着一个计划。
当暮春的阳光开始给大地披上一层金黄色时,这位老人胡乱涂抹了一堆吓人的颜料,并称之为《披着银装的树林》。接着他宣布了一条惊人的消息,他将把这幅画送到拉索普画廊参加夏季画展。
拉索普画廊举行的夏季画展虽然在规模上不算是一年中最大的画展,但在质量上却是一流的。美国每个有成就的艺术家一生的梦想就是获得拉索普奖。现在,埃尔斯沃思先生要把他那幅《披着银装的树林》塞进这批杰作中去展出,而这幅画就像一把用力撒在房屋墙面上的色拉调料。
“如果报界抓住了这条消息,埃尔斯沃思先生就会成为全城人的笑柄。我们得劝阻他。”科佩尔埋怨道。
“不行,”医生警告说,“目前我们不能干涉他,不能冒这个险,否则我们会毁掉我们所取得的成果。”
《披着银装的树林》居然被拉索普画展选中,令这三位大吃一惊,特别是斯温大为惊异。科佩尔想,不仅是埃尔斯沃思先生发疯了,就连拉索普画廊也发疯了。
幸而,这幅油画被挂在一个不显眼的地方,没有引起人们特别的关注与评论。
在展出期间，这位老人照常上课,很少提及他的那幅入选展出的油画。他的心情异常愉快。每当斯温走进房间，总会发现埃尔斯沃思在抿着嘴笑。也许科佩尔说的对,这老头确实疯了。但同样奇怪的是，拉索普评委会竟然接受了他的油画来鼓励他的这种疯癫行为。
就在展览闭幕的前两天,一名特遣信使送来一份公函似的大信封,交给了埃尔斯沃思先生，当时斯温,科佩尔和医生都在房间里。“念给我听听,”老人说,“画画把我的眼睛都累酸了。”
拉索普画廊荣幸地宣布,将风景画一等奖一千美元授予《披着银装的树林》的作者克里斯·普·埃尔斯沃思先生。
斯温和科佩尔惊讶得说不出话来。卡斯韦尔医生以极大的毅力,运用他那职业性的自制力，说道:“祝贺你,埃尔斯沃思先生。好极了,好极了，当然了,这个消息非常出人意料。不过,不过--那么，现在,你得承认艺术比经商更令人满意吧。”
“艺术算什么,"老人愤然地说,“上个月我把拉索普画廊买下来了。”
同步练习

I. CAREFUL READING

(08年真题)Pronouncing a language is a skill. Every normal person is expert in the skill
of pronouncing his own language; but few people are even moderately proficient at pronouncing foreign languages. Now there are many reasons for this, some obvious, some perhaps not so obvious. But I suggest that the fundamental reason why people in general do not speak foreign languages very much better than they do their own languages is that they fail to grasp the true nature of the problems of learning to pronounce, and consequently never set about tackling it in the right way. Far too many people fail to realize that pronouncing a foreign language is a skill one that needs careful training of a special kind, and one that cannot be acquired by just leaving it to take care of itself..
I think, even teachers of language, while recognizing the importance of a good accent, tend to neglect the branch of study concerned with speaking in their practical teaching. So, the first point I want to make here is that the teacher should be prepared to devote some of the lesson time to the teaching of English pronunciation. There should be occasions when other aspects of English, such as grammar or spelling, are allowed for the moment to take second place,
Apart from this question of the time given to pronunciation, there are two other requirements for the teacher: the first, knowledge; the second, technique.
It is important that the teacher should be in possession of the necessary information.
This can generally be obtained from books. It is possible to get from books some idea of the mechanics of speech, and of what we call general phonetic theory.
But the first and most important part of a language teacher's technique is his own performance, his ability to demonstrate the spoken language, in every detail of articulation (发音) as well as in fluent speaking, so that the student's talent capacity for imitation is given the fullest scope and encouragement.
What does the author actually say about pronouncing foreign languages?  ( )
A. Quite a few people are proficient.
B. Few people are reasonably proficient.
C. People realize the importance of pronouncing foreign languages.
D. People tend to spend more time on pronouncing than spelling.
2 . According to the author, pronouncing a foreign language is a skill that requires  (  )
A. leaving it to take care of itself list  .
B. careful training of a special kind .
C. focusing on learners' own performances .
D. obtaining much of the theoretical knowledge .
3 . Regarding the teaching of English pronunciation, the author has made all the following suggestions EXCEPT ____ .
A. to learn from a native speaker.
B. to devote some lesson time  .
C. to demonstrate the spoken language.
D. to possess the necessary information .
4 .  In the author's view, priority should sometimes be given to ________  in the practical teaching.
A. grammar
B. spelling
C. writing
D. pronunciation.
5 . The language teacher's own oral performance is particularly important because   _______ .
A. the students may admire the teacher's spoken language.
B. the students may have a high respect for the teacher's authority .
C. the student's vision can be widened to the fullest scope .
D. the student's speaking ability can be developed through imitation.

II. DISCOURSE CLOZE

The doctor thought it safe to allow Ellsworth to visit the Metropolitan Museum, the Museum of Modern Art, and other exhibitions with Swain. (1) _____. The old man showed a tremendous curiosity in the art galleries and in the painters who exhibited in them. How were the galleries run? Who selected the pictures for the exhibitions?    (2)___________.
When the late spring began to cover the fields and gardens with color, Ellsworth painted a simply horrible picture which he called "Trees Dressed in White" (3)________.   He was going to exhibit the picture in the summer show at the Lathrop Gallery.
The summer show at the Lathrop Gallery was the biggest art exhibition of the year --- in quality, if not in size.  (4)______ . " Among the paintings of this distinguished group of artists, Ellsworth was now going to place his  "Trees Dressed in White", which resembled a handful of salad dressing thrown violently against the side of a house.
"If the newspapers hear about this, everyone in town will be laughing at Mr. Ellsworth. We're got to stop him. "said Koppel. "No, "warned the doctor. " (5)______.
To the complete surprise of all three--and especially Swain "Trees Dressed in White" was accepted for the Lathrop show.(6) ______.
(7) ____.
During the course of the exhibition, the old man kept on taking lessons, seldom mentioning his picture. (8)___. Every time Swain entered the room, he found Ellsworth laughing to himself. Maybe Koppel was right.  (9)______  (10)________
(From Art for Heart's Sake) (P75)
A. Then he made a surprising announcement.
B. An idea was forming in his brain.
C. An entirely new world opened up its mysteries to him.
D. The lifetime dream of every important artist in the United States was a prize from this exhibition.
E. But it seemed equally strange that the Lathrop Gallery committee should encourage his craziness by accepting his picture.
F. Art was a complete cure for him.
G. He was unusually cheerful.
H. Swain and Caswell were so surprised that they could not say a word.
I. Fortunately, the painting was hung in an inconspicuous place, where it did not draw any special notice or comment.
J. we can't interfere with him now and take a chance of running down all the good work which we have done.
K. Not only was Mr. Ellsworth crazy, thought Koppel, but the Lathrop Gallery was crazy, too.
L. The old man was crazy.

III. WORD FORMATIONS

1. (announce) He made an ________  to the public.
2. (11年真题)(curious) She decided to call her ex-boyfriend out of ________.
3. (size) It was not until the late 19th century that any ________ group of people did actually attempt to speak and write an artificial language.
4. (08年真题) （profession) My ________training has taught me to look at things logically.
5. (surprise) A professor at the University of Wisconsin has found another ________ shift.
6. (P73) (suspicion) Old Ellsworth looked ________ over his eye glasses.
7. (sound) The man slept well and ________ , for he had run about a great deal during the day.
8. (P73) (arrange) Swain began by ________ some paper and crayons on the table.
9. (09年真题) (private) In the U.S., where there are millions and millions of ________ owned automobiles, it is not easy to go downtown in the rush hour.
10. (P75) (paint) Fortunately, the ________ was hung in an unconscious precious place.
11. (cover). The same project ________ the first and only birchbark (桦皮舟) document ever found in Moscow.
12. (place) ________ of the treasures is quite significant since this wall had not previously been known to be connected with the pre-Mongolian era.
13 (special) The German ________ Jan Betlem considered the current situation very severe.

IV. GAP FILLING

[ with have many other in  begin permission which  on  admission include since ]
 (12年真题) On the north side of Trafalgar, famous for its Admiral Nelson, its fountains and its hordes of pigeons, there stands a long, low building in classic style. This is the National Gallery, (1____) contains Britain's best-known collection of pictures. The collection was (2____) in 1824, with the purchase of thirty-eight pictures that (3____) Horgarth's satirical series and Titian's "Venus and Adonis".
The National Gallery is rich (4____) paintings by Italian masters such as Raphael and Veronese, and it contains pictures representative of all European schools of art. Many visitors are especially attracted to Leonardo da Vinci's "Virgin of the Rocks".
On sunny days, students and (5____) young people are often to be seen (6____) a sandwich lunch on the portico (I门廊) of the Gallery overlooking Trafalgar Square. (7____) to the Gallery is free, as is the case (8____) other British national galleries and museums, which are maintained by money voted by Parliament. Bequests of pictures have been made to the galleries, at times (9____) a generous scale, by private individuals.
Just behind the National Gallery stands the National Portrait Gallery, in which the visitors can see portraits of British monarchs (10____) the reign of Richards II (1377- 1399), and of historical celebrities such as Chaucer, Shakespeare, and Cromwell. Many of the pictures are by well-known artists.
(From London Art Gallery) (P81)

V. SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS

The following 2 questions are based on the passage in CAREFUL READING. Read the passage carefully again and answer the questions briefly by referring the passage.
1. (08年真题) According to the author, why do people generally not speak foreign languages very much better than their own languages?
2. (08年真题) What are the three basic requirements for the foreign language teacher in teaching pronunciation?

VI. TRANSLATION

Actually, he did like something: his business.
(1) The problem was that while he was still a fabulously wealthy man, he had recently begun to make big mistakes.
(2) He insisted on buying companies at very high prices, only to watch them fail or go bankrupt.
Ellsworth was in pretty good shape for a 76-year-old, but his business failures were ruinous to his health.
(3) He had suffered his last heart attack after his disastrous purchase of a small railroad in Iowa.
(4) The health problem he suffered before that came about because of excitement over the failure of a chain of grocery stores, stores which he had purchased at an inflated price.
It seemed that all his recent purchases had to be liquidated at a great sacrifice to both his pocketbook and his health.
(5) They were beginning to have serious effects.
(From Art for Heart's Sake) (P72)
名师讲解

讲解 I. CAREFUL READING

1.[解析]统观全文可知，该文章主要说 Few people are even moderately, proficient at pro-nouncing foreign languages.及与此有关的情况。moderately 与reasonably 意思相近.答案为B。
2.[解析]文章第一段最后一句说:"... pronouncing a foreign language is a skill-one that needs careful training of a special kind,and .….”因此B项符合题意。答案为B。
3.[解析]文章第二段说, the first point I want to make here is that ... to devote some of the lesson time to....
第四段说...  be in possession of the necessary information. But the first.... teacher's technique is... his ability to demonstrate the spoken language.... A项向以该语言为母语的人学习,文中未提及。答案为A。
4.[解析]文中第二段最后一句说，There should be occasions... grarnmer or spelling, are allowed for the moment to take second place,即，在实际教学过程中，有时候优先和应该给予 pronunciation。答案为 D.
5.[解析] 老师自己的口语能力非常重要,原因是文章最后一句,这样的话，so that student's talent capacity for imitation is given the fullest scope and encouragement.答案为 D.

讲解 II. DISCOURSE CLOZE

(1)C (2)B (3)A (4)D (5)J (6)K (7)I (8)G (9)L (10)E(P75)

讲解 III. WORD FORMATIONS

1. [解析] 根据题干可知题中缺少名词作宾语，所给词的名词形式announcement。答案为announcement.
2. [解析] 译文: 出于好奇,她决定给她的前男友打电话。curious 是形容词，意为“好奇的，惊奇的”,加上后级-ity之后变为名词curiosity。out of curiosity 是固定搭配，意为“出于好奇心”。答案为curiosity。
3. [解析] 空白处需要填入形容词作定语，所以填入形容词 sizable 相当大的，题意为“直到十九世纪晚期才有大量的人确实开始尝试说和写一种人工的语言”。答案为sizable。
4. [解析] 译文：我的职业方面的训练已经教给我要理性地看待事物。“职业训练”中“职业”是形容词，在 profession后加形容词后级-al即可。答案为 professional.
5. [解析]题意为“美国的威斯康星大学的一位教授已经发现了令人吃惊的转变”，因为宾语为物而不是人，所以用动词的ing 形式的形容词;表示物的一种特性。答案为surprising。
6. [解析] 根据题干可知空白处需要填入副词作状语，所以填入副词suspiciously 怀疑地，题忘为“老埃尔斯決思从眼镜后露出了疑恐的眼神”。答案为 suspiciously(P73)。
7. [解析〕根据题干可知空白处需要填入副词作状语，所给词 sound 作为形容词用意为“安然无恙的“等，soundly 为副词，忘为“酣然地”，题意为“那个人睡得正香正酣，因为他白天已经跑了很多路了”。答案为soundly。
8. [解析] 根据题干 可知空白处需要填入名词性的词，因为所给词为动词,所以应用其动名词形式作宾语，题意为“斯温把纸和蜡笔在桌子上摆好”。答案为 arranging(p73）。
9. [解析] 译文：在美国有数百万的私家汽车，因此在交通高峰期去市中心是不太容易的。由于空缺处需填一词来修饰 owned，故用private的副词形式privately。答案为privately。
10. [解析] 根据题干可知空白处需要填入名词形式，而根据题意应该填入意为“画”的名词，题干意为“幸运的是，那幅画被挂在了不显眼的地方”。
答案为 painting ( P75 )。
11. [解析] 所给动河意为 “覆盖、包括”，根据课文可知题意为“同样的项目并没有包括第一份也是唯一的一份在莫斯科发现的桦皮舟文件”，所以应填入所给词的反义词uncovered。答案为 uncovered。
12. [解析] 根据题干可知空白处需要填入名词作主语，所给词为动词“置放、摆放”等，名词形式pilacement 意为“布局、位置、放置”，题干意为“既然以前没有人知道这堵墙是和前蒙古区连接的，那么财宝的安放位置就很重要”。同时注意placement 的首字母需要大写。答案为 Placement.
13. [解析] 题干中 Jan Betlem 是人，所以空白处填入的词应该为“人”，所给形容词的名词形式specialist 意为“专家”，符合题意。题干意为“这位德国专家认为目前的形势很严峻” 答案为 specialist.

讲解 IV. GAP FILLING

(1) which (2) begun (3) included (4) in (5) other (6)having (7) Admission (8) with (9) on (10) since (P81)

讲解 V. SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS

1. [答案]
(1) People do not generally speak foreign languages very much better than their own languages.
(2) because they have no idea of the nature of the problems of learning to pronounce.
(3) To be more specific, people are not aware that pronouncing a foreign language is a skill,
(4) which requires careful training of a special kind.
2. [答案]
(1) The first requirement for foreign language teachers is that they should be prepared to devote some of the lesson time to the teaching of pronunciation.
(2) The second is to possess the necessary information about pronunciation.
(3) The third is to demonstrate their oral performance.

讲解 VI. TRANSLATION

[答案](1)问题是;虽然他仍是一位拥有着令人难以置信财产的巨富，但近年来他已经在生意上开始频频出现大错了。
(2)他总是高价买入一些公司，结果眼看着他们经营不善或破产。
(3)他最近一次心脏病发作是因为他在伊阿华州大错特错地买了一条铁路支线。
(4)在此之前他的心脏病复发，是因为一家食品杂货连锁店的经营不善而使他精神上安到了刺激,这家商店是他在通货膨胀时购买的.
(5)其后果十分严重。(p72)

OFFICIAL READING

7. Art for Heart's Sake

---- After Rube Goldberg

Text

Keith Koppel, private duty nurse to the extraordinarily wealthy Collis P. Ellsworth, was glad to leave his patient's room to answer the door. He had had a tiring morning trying to get Ellsworth to cooperate in his own recovery. As soon as Koppel discovered that the caller was Ellsworth's doctor, he began to complain.

"I can't do a thing with him," he told Dr. Caswell. "He won't take his juice. He doesn't want me to read to him. He hates listening to the radio or watching TV. He doesn't like anything. "

Actually, he did like something: his business. The problem was that while he was still a fabulously wealthy man, he had recently begun to make big mistakes. He insisted on buying companies at very high prices, only to watch them fail or go bankrupt.

Ellsworth was in pretty good shape for a 76-year-old, but his business failures were ruinous to his health. He had suffered his last heart attack after his disastrous purchase of a small railroad in Iowa. The health problem he suffered before that came about because of excitement over the failure of a chain of grocery stores, stores which he had purchased at an inflated price. It seemed that all his recent purchases had to be liquidated at a great sacrifice to both his pocketbook and his health. They were beginning to have serious effects.

Dr. Caswell had done his homework, however. He realized that he needed to interest the old man in something which would take his mind off his problem and redirect his energies. His answer was art. The doctor entered his patient's room.

"I hear that you haven't been obeying orders," the doctor said.

"Who's giving me orders at my time of life?"

The doctor drew up his chair and sat down close to the old man. "I've got a suggestion for you," he said quietly.

Old Ellsworth looked suspiciously over his eyeglasses. "What is it, more medicine, more automobile rides, more foolishness to keep me away from my office?"

"How would you like to take up art?" The doctor had his stethoscope ready in case the suddenness of the suggestion proved too much for the patient's heart.

But the Old man's answer was a strong "foolishness!"

"I don't mean seriously," said the doctor, relieved that nothing had happened. "Just play around with chalk and crayons. It'll be fun. "

But after several more scowls, which were met with gentle persuasion by the wise doctor, Ellsworth gave in. He would, at least, try it for a while.

Caswell went to his friend Judson Livingston, head of the Atlantic Art Institute, and explained the situation. Livingston introduced Frank Swain.

Swain was an 18-year-old art student, quite good; who needed money to continue his education. He would tutor Ellsworth one afternoon a week for ten dollars an hour.

Their first lesson was on the next afternoon. It was less than an over-
whelming success. Swain began by arranging some paper and crayons on the table.

"Let's try to draw that vase over there," he suggested.

"What for? It's only a bowl with some blue stains on it. Or are they green?"

"Try it, Mr. Ellsworth, please."

"Umph!" The old man took a piece of crayon in a shaky hand and drew several lines. He drew several more and then connected these crudely. "There it is, young man," he said with a tone of satisfaction." Such foolishness!"

Frank Swain was patient. He needed the ten dollars. "If you want to draw, you will have to look at what you're drawing, sir. "

Ellsworth looked. "Gosh, it's rather pretty. I never noticed it before."

Koppel came in with the announcement that his patient had done enough for the first lesson.

"Oh,it's pineapple juice again," Ellsworth said. Swain left,not sure if he would be invited back.

When the art student came the following week, there was a drawing on the table that had a slight resemblance to a vase. The wrinkles deepened at the corners of the old gentleman's eyes as he asked, "Well, what do you think of it?"

"Not bad, sir," answered Swain. "But it's not quite straight. "

"Gosh," old Ellsworth smiled, "I see. The halves don't match. " He added a few lines with a shaking hand and colored the open spaces blue, like a child playing with a picture book. Then he looked towards the door. "Listen, young man," he whispered, "I want to ask you something before old Pineapple Juice comes back. "

"Yes, sir," answered Swain politely.

"I was thinking-do you have the time to come twice a week, or perhaps three times?"

As the weeks went by, Swain's visits grew more frequent. When Dr. Caswell called, Ellsworth would talk about the graceful lines of the chimney or the rich variety of color in a bowl of fruit.

The treatment was working perfectly. No more trips downtown to his office for the purpose of buying some business that was to fail later. No more crazy financial plans to try the strength of his tired old heart. Art was a complete cure for him.

The doctor thought it safe to allow Ellsworth to visit the Metropolitan Museum, the Museum of Modern Art, and other exhibitions with Swain. An entirely new world opened up its mysteries to him. The old man showed a tremendous curiosity in the art galleries and in the painters who exhibited in them. How were the galleries run? Who selected the pictures for the exhibitions? An idea was forming in his brain.

When the late spring began to cover the fields and gardens with color, Ellsworth painted a simply horrible picture which he called "Trees Dressed in White". Then he made a surprising announcement. He was going to exhibit the picture in the summer show at the Lathrop Gallery.

The summer show at the Lathrop Gallery was the biggest art exhibition of the year---in quality, if not in size. The lifetime dream of every important artist in the United States was a prize from this exhibition. Among
the paintings of this distinguished group of artists, Ellsworth was now going to place his "Trees Dressed in White", which resembled a handful of salad dressing thrown violently against the side of a house.

"If the newspapers hear about this, everyone in town will be laughing at Mr. Ellsworth. We're got to stop him. " said Koppel. "No," warned the doctor. "we can't interfere with him now and take a chance of running down all the good work which we have done.

To the complete surprise of all three-and especially Swain-" Trees Dressed in White" was accepted for the Lathrop show. Not only was M.r Ellsworth crazy, thought Koppel, but the Lathrop Gallery was crazy, too.

Fortunately, the painting was hung in an inconspicuous place, where it did not draw any special notice or comment.

During the course of the exhibition, the old man kept on taking lessons, seldom mentioning his picture. He was unusually cheerful. Every time Swain entered the room, he found Ellsworth laughing to himself. Maybe Koppel was right. The old man was crazy. But it seemed equally strange that the Lathrop committee should encourage his craziness by accepting his picture.

Two days before the close of the exhibition, a special messenger brought a long, official-looking envelope to Mr. Ellsworth while Swain, Ko- ppel, and the doctor were in the room. "Read it to me," said the old man. "My eyes are tired from painting."

It gives the Lathrop Gallery great pleasure to announce that the First Prize of $1000 has been awarded to Coolis P. Ellsworth for his painting "Trees Dressed in White".

Swain and Koppel were so surprised that they could not say a word. Dr. Caswell, exercising his professional self-control with a supreme effort, said, "Congratulations, Mr. Ellsworth. Fine, fine . ... Of course,I didn't
expect such great news. But, but--well, now, you'll have to admit that art is much more satisfying than business."

"Art has nothing to do with it," said the old man sharply. "I bought the Lathrop Gallery last month."

NOTES

1. RubeGoldberg:卢比•戈德堡(1883--1970)，美国过环漫画家、作家，他创造了一个专门搞复杂发明来做极简单事情的漫画人物——发明家布茨教授，其社论性连环画(今日和平 Peace Todas)曾获普利策奖(1948).

2. Art for Heart's Sake:为了心脏而艺术。这个标题借用了英国作家奥斯卡 • 王尔德 ( Oscar Wilde ) 所提出的文艺理论 :art for art's sake , 即为了艺术而艺术 ; 唯美主义 。

3 . The problem was that while he was still a fabulously wealthy man, he had recently begun to make big mistakes : 问题是 ， 虽然他仍是一个令人难以置信的巨富，但他最近已经开始频频出现大错。

4. only to watch them fail or go bankrupt :结果眼看着它们经营不利或破产 。 only 加上动词不定式常用来表示意想不到的结果 ，例 如 :He raced through the living room; only to find the front door closed.

5. Ellsworth was in pretty good shape for a 76-year-old: 对于一个 76 岁老人来说，Ellsworth 身体状况是非常不错的。

6. Iowa : 美国衣阿华州 。

7. The health problem he suffered before that . . . at an inflated price: 在此之前他的心脏病复发，是因为一家食品杂货连锁店经营不佳而使他情绪上受到了刺激。这些商店是他在通货膨胩的时候购买的。

8. It seemed that all his recent purchases had to be liquidated at a great sacrifice to both his pocketbook and his health:最近他购买的所有公司、商店看来都得清理变卖，这对他的经济利益和身体健康都是一个巨大损失。

9. takse his mind off his problem and redirect his energies : 使他的大脑从生意困境中解脱出来 ，将其精力引导到別的事情上去。

10 . at my time of life :在我这个年纪 。

11. The doctor had his stethoscope ready in case the suddenness of the suggestion proved too much for the patient's heart:医生将听诊器准备好，生怕他的建议提得太突然，病人的心脏会受不了。

12 . It was less than an overwhelming success : (第一堂课)不算很成功 。

13. Gosh:(表示惊讶、惊奇)天啊，啊呀。

14. colored the open spaces blue:将空白处涂成蓝色。colored 后使用的是 复合宾语结构。

15. old Pineapple Juice:指他的值班护士 Keith Koppel,因为他总是给 Ellsworth 送菠萝汁。

16. No more crazy financial plans to try the strength of his tired old heart: 再没有什么疯狂的金融计划来折騰他那颗疲急不堪、衰老的心脏。

17. An entirely new world opened up its mysteries to him: 一个全新的世界向他展示其种种神秘。

18. which resembled a handful of salad dressing thrown violently against the side of a house: (他的《披着银装的树林》像一把用力撒在房屋墻面上的色拉调料 。

19. To the complete surprise of all three:令这三位大吃一惊的是。

20. it did not draw any special notice or comment : 它没有引起(参观者的)任何特別的注意或评论。

21. exercising his professional self-control:运用他那职业性的自制力。
exercise 意同 use; put into effect. 例如:
1) Britain has warned travellers to exercise prudence and care.
2) They were merely exercising their right to free speech.

READING QUIZ

Glance over the text quickly ONCE and see if you can answer the following questions.
1. Who was Keith Koppel? What was his complaint about his patient?
2. What had Collis P. Ellsworth started doing recently that made his doc-tor worried?
.3 What did Dr. Caswell prescribe in order to help his patient avoid further health problems?

Who was Frank Swain? How did he get the job as a tutor?
What was the difference between Ellsworth's first drawing of the vase and the second drawing?

How often did Ellsworth want Swain to come?
7.
What happened when Ellsworth began to visit museums and galleries? 8.
What was "Trees Dressed in White"? How good was it?
9. What was the Lathrop Gallery? Why did some people think the Lathrop
committee was crazy?
10. What was the final twist to the story?

VOCABULARY

A. Use each of the following terms in a sentence.
1. to go bankrupt.
2. to take one's mind off sth.
3. to the complete surprise of.
4. to go by.
5. handful.
6. to exercise (one's self-control, etc.)
7. for the sake of
8. at a great sacrifice
9. at one's time of life
10. to draw (one's notice, etc.)

B. Match the term in the left column with one which has a SIMILAR meaning in the right column.
1 wealthy
2. dull
3. crazy
4. keep on
5. inconspicuous
6. overwhelming
7. fabulously
8. relieve
9. stand
10. award

a. lessen
b. amazingly
c. continue
d. tremendous
e. unremarkable
f. insane
g. bear
h. prize
i. uninteresting
i. rich

C. Read the text below.

Use the word in capitals at the end of some of the lines to form a word that fits in the space in the same line.
There is an example at the beginning.

A Musical Genius

[ INFLUENCE ORDINARY MERCY UPBRING ]
For many people Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 - 1827) is the most (0) influential figure in the history of western classical music. His ( 1________ ) talent was already clearly evident as a young man, ( 2________ ) surviving a somewhat unconventional (3________) during which his eccentric father would often force him to take music lessons in the middle of the night. The young Beethoven's ability won him the admiration of the leading contemporary musical figures. Throughout the 1790s he worked hard to secure the interest of wealthy patrons.
Such patronage ( 4________ ) him to concentrate on becoming a successful composer. Whatever his awe-inspiring musical ( 5________ ) , however, his personal life was something of a disaster.

[ ABLE ACHIEVE RELATE ELUDE REALISE CURE STRIKE ]

His day-to-day (6________) with people invariably turned out to be rather turbulent. Although he apparently fell in love with a number of society women, the identity of the girl who lay closest to his heart remains ( 7_________ ) to this day. However, just at the point when Beethoven was beginning to reap the rewards of his early endeavours, he had to come to terms with the crushing (8________) that his increasing deafness was ( 9________ ) . From that point on,his music displayed a (10________) change in style, becoming both heavier in tone and larger in scale.

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION & APPRECIATION

1. In what other ways could a person in Mr. Ellsworth's condition have redirected his energy?
2. Have you produced any artwork? What kind?
3. What are some ways in which people of all ages can stay in shape? What do you do to get to stay in shape?
4. Do you enjoy going to art museums? What is the purpose of an art exhibition?
5. Where does the climax of the story lie?
6. How would you comment on Mr. Ellsworth's character after reading the story?

SPEED READING

London Art Gallery

On the north side of Trafalgar,famous for its Admiral Nelson ("Nelson's Column"), its fountains and its hordes of pigeons, there stands a long, low building in classic style. This is the National Gallery, which contains Britain's best-known collection of pictures. The collection was begun in 1824, with the purchase of thirty-eight pictures that included Horgarth's satirical "Marriage à la Mode" series, and Titian's "Venus and Adonis".

The National Gallery is rich in paintings by Italian masters such as Raphael, Correggio, and Veronese, and it contains pictures representative of all European schools of art such as works by Rembrandt, Rubens, Van Dyck, Murillo, El Greco, and nineteenth century French masters. Many visitors are especially attracted to
Velasquez's "Rokeby Venus" and Leonardo da Vinci's "Virgin of the Rocks".

On sunny days, students and other young people are often to be seen having a sandwich lunch on the portico (门廊;柱廊) of the Gallery overlooking Trafalgar Square. Admission to the Gallery is free, as is the case with other British national galleries and museums,which are maintained by money voted by Parliament. Bequests of pictures have been made to the galleries, at times on a generous scale, by private individuals.

Just behind the National Gallery stands the National Portrait Gallery, in which the visitors can see portraits of British monarchs since the reign of Richards II (1377-1399), and of historical celebrities such as Chaucer, Shakespeare, and Cromwell. Many of the pictures are by well-known artists.

The National Gallery of British Art, better known as the Tate Gallery, was given to the nation by a rich sugar merchant, Sir Henry Tate, who had a taste for the fine arts. It overlooks the Thames, not far from the Houses of Parliament. English artists are naturally well represented here, and the Tate also has a range of modern works, including some sculptures, by foreign artists. This, of all the London galleries, is the young people's gallery. It has been stated that three-quarters of its visitors are under twenty-five.

The Wallace Collection at Herford House was formed by Lord Herford and his half brothers, Sir Richard Wallace, who inherited the collection, which was given to the nation in 1897 by Richard's widow. There is here a very fine display of weapons and armour, of pottery, miniatures ( 微型画 ) and sculptures. The first floor of the building contains an admirable assortment of Boucher's pictures, besides excellent examples of the work of Fragonard, to mention only two artists.

On a summer day, a visit to Kenwood House in Kenwood, on the northern side of Hampstead Heath, is well worth while, for here is a small collection of paintings, some by famous painters, that can be viewed in a relatively short time. Afterwards, one can go out into the charming grounds. One may sun oneself on the turf ( 草皮 ) of the spacious lawns, or stroll by the lily-pond and then enter the little wood that half surrounds it. Kenwood House is maintained not by the government but by the Greater London Council.

Comprehension Exercises

I. Decide the answer that best completes the following statements according to the information provided in the text.
1. The National Gallery is well known for ________ .
[A] its location on Trafalgar Square.
[B] its fountains and its hordes of pigeons .
[C] Britain's best-known collection of pictures .
[D] its building in classic style.

2. British national galleries and museums are maintained by ________ .
[A] visitors' admission fees .
[B] money granted by the Parliament.
[C] private individuals.
[D] the city of London .

3. The National Gallery of British Art is ________.
[A] owned by Sir Henry Tate.
[B] owned by the House of Parliament.
[C] only visited by the young people .
[D] visited by the majority of the young people.

4. Boucher's pictures and the work of Fragonard are found ________ .
[A] in the National Gallery .
[B] in the Tate Gallery .
[C] in all the London galleries .
[D] in the Wallace Collection at Herford House .

5. In the National Portrait Gallery the visitors can see ________ .
[A] pictures representative of all European schools of art.
[B] nineteenth century French masters.
[C] portraits of such historical celebrities as Rembrandt and da Vinci .
[D] portraits of many British monarchs and historical celebrities.

II. Decide whether the following statements are true (T) or false (F) according to the in formation given the text.
( ) 1. The National Gallery is rich in paintings by Italian masters and British artists.
( ) 2. In Great Britain, admission to the National Gallery and other British national galleries and museums is free of charge.
( ) 3. The National Gallery of British Art is located near the Houses of Parliament.
( ) 4. The young visitors are often seen having a sandwich lunch at the entrance to the National Gallery.
( ) 5. A visit to Kenwood House is well worthwhile, because there is a small collection of paintings here and it won't take you too long to appreciate them.